rubber-hose cryptanalysis

noun

The extraction of cryptographic secrets by coercion or torture.

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Meanings

nounrubber-hose cryptanalysis (uncountable)
  1. euphemisticuncountablecomputingThe extraction of cryptographic secrets by coercion or torture.

    Other types of cryptanalytic attacks include chosen cipher text, chosen key, rubber hose cryptanalysis, and purchase key. Algorithms differ by degrees of security; this depends on how hard they are to break.

    2010, Hazarathaiah Malepati, Digital Media Processing: DSP Algorithms Using C, Newnes, →ISBN, page 18
    2 more examples

    We have shown that GNUnet is vulnerable to rubber-hose cryptanalysis, but we additionally have presented an efficient content filter for GNUnet. If content filtering is legally enforced, censoring GNUnet is possible at a very large scale.

    2003, Dennis Kügler, “An Analysis of GNUnet”, in Privacy Enhancing Technologies: Third International Workshop, edited by Roger Dingledine, Springer Science & Business Media, →ISBN, page 175

    Catherine scooted out of the way, giving Terry access to the keyboard. With a labored sigh, Terry began searching the encrypted text. “I could try a ciphertext-only attack,” he mumbled to no one in particular. “Then again,” he glared at the attacker and continued, “I could always try rubber-hose cryptanalysis.” He thought for a moment. “I don't need a total break; I'm only interested in information deduction. Let me check the swap file.”

    2005, Ryan Russell, Peter A Riley, Jay Beale, Chris Hurley, Tom Parker, Brian Hatch, Stealing the Network: How to Own an Identity: How to Own an Identity, Syngress, →ISBN, page 279

Origin

Referring to the use of a rubber hose as a weapon to beat somebody with.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

rubber-hose cryptanalysis. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rubber-hose%20cryptanalysis

MLA

“rubber-hose cryptanalysis.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rubber-hose%20cryptanalysis. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “rubber-hose cryptanalysis,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/rubber-hose%20cryptanalysis.

Source: rubber-hose cryptanalysis on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.